Obstacle on a bowling lane

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to an obstacle on a bowling lane for keeping the bowling ball on a single bowling lane. The obstacle comprises at least one obstacle element which is arranged to be movable and is located next to the edge of a single bowling lane, in the longitudinal direction of the same, means for moving the obstacle element and means for guiding the movement of the obstacle element. The means for moving the obstacle element comprise a channel ( 5 ) underneath the obstacle element that can expanded with a gaseous or liquid substance.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an obstacle on a bowling lane forkeeping the bowling ball on a single bowling lane, and to a bowlinglane. The obstacle comprises at least one obstacle element that isarranged to be movable and is located next to the longitudinal edge of asingle bowling lane, means for moving the obstacle element and means forguiding the movement of the obstacle element. The bowling lane includes

-   -   a substructure,    -   at least one single bowling lane comprising an approach lane, a        ball track, and a pin deck,    -   a gutter travelling on both sides of a single bowling lane, in        parallel to the same in the longitudinal direction of the        bowling lane,    -   an obstacle element that can be moved to an upper and lower        position, and is located next to the longitudinal edge of the        bowling lane,    -   means for moving the obstacle element, and    -   means for guiding the movement of the obstacle element.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A problem that can occur when an inexperienced bowler is bowling is thatthe bowling ball leaves the bowling lane and falls to the gutter sooften that bowling is no longer inspiring. Therefore, obstacles havebeen developed for bowling lanes by means of which the falling of thebowling ball from the track to the gutter travelling on the side of thetrack is prevented. This form of bowling, in which the drifting of thebowling ball into the gutter is prevented, is called bumper bowling inEnglish. There is no established Finnish term for this purpose. Becausethe Finnish terms related to bowling lanes are otherwise unestablishedto a certain extent as well, corresponding English terms are shown inparenthesis in this application.

Usually the falling of the bowling ball into the gutter has beenprevented either by moving the edge of the gutter in such a manner thatit forms an obstacle for the bowling ball or by moving a separateobstacle located between the bowling lane and the gutter.

Obstacles that are formed in the edge of the bowling lane are disclosedfor example in the publications U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,564,986, 5,857,918,5,681,224, 5,417,616, 5,380,251 and 5,304,097.

Publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,097 discloses a lane suitable forconventional bowling or bumper bowling, in which the obstacle is formedby means of compatible beams parallel to the longitudinal or lateraldirection of the lane.

The publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,251 discloses a fence-like obstacle,which can be lifted up in parallel with the lane by means of beamsextending underneath the gutter.

The publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,616 discloses an obstacle, which isformed when the other side of a gutter composed of two parts is liftedup by means of a lever arm and a spring.

The publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,986 discloses an obstacle, which isformed when the gutter is lifted up by means of a torsion shaft.

The publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,224 discloses an obstacle, themovement of which is effected by means of a hydraulic cylinder. Thehydraulic cylinder is guided either manually from the control panel of ascore keeping device or by means of an electronic control circuit.

The publication U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,918 discloses an obstacle, which isformed when the other side of a gutter composed of two parts is liftedup by means of air cylinders or another electromechanical system. Theair cylinders cushion the mechanical stress exerted to the obstacle whenthe obstacle is lowered down.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The drawbacks of prior art obstacles are for example the complex andexpensive structures that are liable to breaking. By means of theobstacle according to the invention it is possible to avoid theabove-mentioned problems.

The obstacle and the bowling lane according to the invention arecharacterized in that the means for moving the obstacle element comprisea channel underneath the obstacle element that can be expanded with agaseous or liquid medium.

The obstacle according to the invention is simple and cheap, and itendures the blows caused by a bowling ball or another object. It is aspecial advantage of the present invention that the downward movement ofthe obstacle, i.e. the movement to a position in which the obstaclenormally is during bowling, does not have to be cushioned separately,but cushioning is effected already as a result of the structure of theobstacle.

In the longitudinal direction of a single bowling lane, the lanecontains an approach lane, a ball track and a pin deck on which the pinsto be bowled down stand erect. On both sides of each single bowling lanethere is a gutter, along which the bowling ball travels if it falls outof the track. Furthermore, the lane contains machines which are arrangedfor example to take care of keeping the scores and lifting the pins up.

The entire bowling lane is composed of sections in the lateral directionin such a manner that there are two gutters between single bowlinglanes. Underneath the entire bowling lane there is a substructure. Thereturning of the ball takes place in the space underneath and/or betweenthe gutters in such a manner that balls of two tracks are returned inthe same space. Thus, space for the ball return is required onlyunderneath every other pair of gutters. On top of the substructure,bowling lane panels are mounted by means of a suitable attachment, whichbowling lane panels can be several superimposed panel layers or bowlinglane elements composed of a multiple layer structure. Between the panellayer or the lane element and the substructure there may be a material,for example a rubber mat or the like, as a cushioning layer.

The substructure of the bowling lane comprises beams extending in thelongitudinal direction of the bowling lane, beams extending in thelateral direction of the bowling lane and vertical beams supporting thebowling lane. The beams are connected to each other in such a mannerthat they form a three-dimensional trussed structure. The substructuremay also contain diagonal beams.

The channel according to the invention, which can be expanded with aliquid or gaseous medium, is positioned underneath the obstacle element,extending over the entire distance in the longitudinal direction of asingle bowling lane or part of the same that forms the travel path ofthe bowling ball, i.e. the area between the approach lane and the pindeck. The material of the channel is at least partly flexible in such amanner that it is capable of reacting to a pressure change in thechannel. The channel is suitably supported in such a manner that it issubstantially parallel to the plane of the bowling lane. Underneath thechannel there may be a plate or a groove parallel to the plane of thebowling lane, which supports the channel, or the channel may be attachedto the beams in the cross direction of the substructure in such a mannerthat it does not move in the lateral direction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following, the invention will be described in more detail withreference to the appended drawings, in which

FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a situation in which the gutter of thebowling lane is in the normal bowling position, and

FIG. 2 shows a cross section of a situation in which an obstacle for thebowling balls has been formed from the edge of the gutter of the bowlinglane in so-called bumper bowling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS 1 and 2 show a part of the section of the bowling lane 1 thatremains between single bowling lanes. Between a single bowling lane 3and the section 1 remaining between the bowling lanes there is a gutter2 comprising a concave section between the edges 2 a and 2 b and asubstantially vertical section 2 c. The gutter 2 is attached from itsother end 2 a with a turning joint 6 to the L-shaped supporting beam 4of the gutter. The supporting beam 4 of the gutter, in turn, is attachedto the substructure of the bowling lane. By means of the supporting beam4 it is possible to arrange the adjustments of the gutter in thevertical and lateral direction. The other edge 2 b of the gutter 2 canbe moved and turned freely around a supporting point in such a mannerthat maintenance or other corresponding work can be conducted in thearea underneath the gutter 2. The turning joint may be for example ahinge. Underneath the gutter 2 there is a channel 5 which is made offlexible, pressure-proof and wear-proof material. The shape of thecross-section of the channel 5 can be changed by changing the pressurein the channel 5. Typically, the channel 5 is made of fabric-reinforcedpolymer material. For example a fabric-reinforced polyvinyl chloridehose, which is conventionally used as a fire hose, is made of a suitablematerial.

The channel 5 can be placed to a suitable location in the lateraldirection of the gutter 2 underneath the same, depending for example onthe diameter of the channel and the required lifting height. Suitablelifting height is typically 50 to 60 mm. Instead of one single channel,there may be several channels 5. The channel 5 may also be liftedupwards from the upper surface of the substructure in a suitable mannerwith a suitable raising or on the lower surface of the gutter 2 theremay be a thicker section, wherein the lifting of the gutter 2 can beimplemented by means of a channel 5 having a small diameter, or it canbe lifted higher than without the above-mentioned raisings or thickersections. Thus, the channel 5 is in direct contact with the lowersurface of the gutter 2 in such a manner that between the same there maybe only the above-mentioned raisings and/or thicker sections.

When the aim is to lift up the edge of the gutter so that it forms anobstacle for the bowling balls, in other words to an upper position, thechannel is arranged to be filled with a suitable liquid medium such aswater, or gaseous medium, such as air. The preferred medium is air. Theair pressure in the channel 5 is advantageously 400 to 1000 Pa higherthan the pressure of the air surrounding the channel, mostadvantageously 400 to 500 Pa higher than the pressure of air surroundingthe channel. The pressure is generated by means of a compressor or ablower.

When there is a need to lower the gutter down to the normal positionused during bowling, in other words to the lower position, air isremoved from the channel 5. The air is removed from the channel 5 insuch a manner that an air bleeding valve connected to the channel 5 isarranged to open when it receives a signal from the control unit. Thefilling and emptying of the channel 5 can be controlled with a simpleon/off switch or by means of computer control, wherein the lifting ofthe edge of the gutter as an obstacle or lowering of the same from theobstacle position can be connected for example to the automatic scoringsystem of the bowling lane. Thus, it is possible to input information onthe players in a computer, and when such a bowler has his/her turn whoneeds the obstacles on the sides of a single bowling lane, the edge 2 bof the gutter 2 is arranged to be lifted up automatically for thisplayer. The edge 2 b of the gutter 2 is automatically lowered down whena bowler who bowls in the conventional way has his/her turn. When theedge of the gutter is lowered down, the channel 5 becomes empty and asound caused by discharge of air is attenuated by means of soundattenuators installed in the air bleeding valves. The emptying of thechannel 5 is arranged so that it takes place sufficiently slowly,irrespective of the manner of control, for example with the dimensioningof the air bleeding valve in such a way that the edge 2 b of the gutter2 is lowered down in a cushioned manner, in other words it does not falldown suddenly. Sudden falling might cause damages in the gutter as wellas disturbing noises resulting from the falling. When the channel hasbecome sufficiently empty, the substantially vertical section 2 c of thegutter 2 remains on top of the substructure. The channel 5 is also asuitably flexible base for the gutter 2 when the bowling ball hits theedge of the gutter and causes vibration of the gutter.

If desired, it is possible to install devices giving visual effects inthe groove 7 extending throughout the entire length of the gutter 2,which effects become visible when the gutter 2 has been lifted up. Suchdevices giving visual effects may be for example bands of optical cable.

The above-described facts do not restrict the invention, but theinvention may vary within the scope of the claims. The invention canalso be applied in lanes of other pin games, for example in so-calledKegel lanes. The obstacle element does not necessarily have to be theedge of the gutter, but it can be a separate element between the bowlinglane and the gutter, which is lifted up and lowered down by means of achannel located under the same that can be expanded with a gaseous orliquid medium. Furthermore, the obstacle element can be the edge of thegutter in such a manner that the entire gutter is lifted up in thevertical direction for example by means of two channels. It is alsopossible that between the obstacle element and the channel there is apassive connecting element that transmits the movement of the channeland effects the movement of the obstacle element.

The function of the channel to lift up the obstacle element does notnecessarily have to be based on the fact that the pressure of thechannel in the lower position is substantially the same as the pressureof the ambient air, but the function of the channel can also be based onthe difference between the pressures prevailing in the upper and lowerpositions. Thus, the pressure in the channel can be higher than normalair pressure at all times. The cross-section of the channel is notnecessarily circular, but the shape of the same may vary. Thecross-sectional area of the channel may vary for example in such amanner that at the point where the obstacle element is lifted up thecross-sectional area of the channel is larger than in other sections ofthe channel. It is an essential aspect of the present invention thatwith the so-called bumper bowling in mind, the obstacle for preventingthe falling of the bowling ball in the gutter can be formed in a simplemanner by using a stationary channel, the filling and emptying of whichcauses the movement of the obstacle element.

1. A bowling lane, comprising: a lane portion; a gutter extending alongeach side of the lane portion, the gutter being movable between a stowedposition and deployed position, wherein in the deployed position thegutter acts as an obstacle operative to maintain a bowling ball on thelane portion; a turning joint operative to move the gutter between thestowed position and the deployed position; and at least one movingmember operative to move the gutter between the deployed position andthe stowed position, the at least one moving member comprising at leastone channel located underneath the gutter, wherein the at least onechannel is operative to expanded by an expanding medium.
 2. The obstacleaccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one channel and the gutterdirectly contact each other.
 3. The obstacle according to claim 1,wherein the turning joint comprises a hinge.
 4. The obstacle accordingto claim 1, wherein the at least one channel comprises a flexible hose.5. The obstacle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one obstacleelement is in an upper position when the at least one channel has beenfilled with the expanding medium.
 6. The obstacle according to claim 1,wherein the expanding medium is gaseous.
 7. The obstacle according toclaim 1, wherein the expanding medium is liquid.
 8. The gutter accordingto claim 1, wherein the obstacle is in a lower position when the atleast one channel is at least partially emptied of the expanding medium.9. The obstacle according to claim 1, wherein the gutter is operative tomove perpendicularly to a plane of the bowling lane.